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How can Family Dinners Make a Difference?

Family mealtime gives families the opportunity to connect and spend quality time with each other each day, which is known to have the potential to enhance child health and overall well-being. Family mealtimes include a collection of important and meaningful roles and activities, from preparing the meal and setting the table to eating and cleaning the dishes.
 

Research has shown that there are great benefits of family mealtimes:
- Provides the opportunity for teaching moments
- Can help to build a sense of belonging within the family
- Provides the opportunity to “check in” with each other
- Can reinforce family values
- Improve family communication and overall general functioning
- Can result in improved school performance

- Can contribute to literacy development (exposure to new words, improve narrative

   skills & practice conversational transitions)
- Can reduce the chance of adolescent risk-taking behaviour or addiction
- Is a protective factor in limiting the risk for mental health problems later in life

- Helps to create routines, roles, and develop organizational skills

- Can improve social skills
- Can ease the stress of daily life

 

References:

Fulkerson, J. A., Story, M., Mellin, A., Leffert, N., Neumark-Sztainer, D. & French, S. A. (2006). Family dinner meal frequency and adolescent development: relationships with developmental assets and high-risk behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 39(3), 337-345.
 

Hamilton, S. K. & Hamilton Wilson, J. (2009). Family mealtimes: worth the effort? Infant, Child, & Adolescent Nutrition, 1(6). 346-350.
 

Nordquest, M. A. & Nordquest, M. (2007). Family mealtime as a context of development and socialization. Families, Systems, & Health, 25(2), 219-221.

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